BATON ROUGE (June 25, 2010) - Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries (LDWF) Secretary Robert Barham announced the following openings to recreational and commercial fishing in portions of Terrebonne, Lafourche, Jefferson and Plaquemines Parishes and a closure of recreational and commercial fishing in a portion of St. Bernard Parish effective immediately today, June 25.

Lafourche Parish
The portion of state inside waters north of 29 degrees 12 minutes 50 seconds north latitude near the southern shoreline of Little Lake west of Leeville and south of 29 degrees 21 minutes 42 seconds north latitude from the eastern shoreline of Bayou Lafourche westward to 90 degrees 17 minutes 50 seconds west longitude and the western shoreline of Grand Bayou Blue.

Jefferson and Lafourche Parish
The portion of state inside waters north of 29 degrees 18 minutes 30 seconds north latitude near Bay Des Ilettes and south of 29 degrees 35 minutes 00 seconds north latitude from the eastern shoreline of the Barataria Waterway westward to 90 degrees 07 minutes 00 seconds west longitude.
The portion of Caminada Bay and adjacent waters north of 29 degrees 16 minutes 00 seconds north latitude and south of 29 degrees 18 minutes 30 seconds north latitude from 90 degrees 00 minutes 00 seconds west longitude westward to 90 degrees 07 minutes 00 seconds west longitude

Plaquemines Parish
The portion of state inside waters north of the inside/outside shrimp line west of the Mississippi River from 89 degrees 30 minutes 12 seconds west longitude to the western shoreline of Grand Bayou.

Fishing Closure

St. Bernard Parish
The portion of state inside and outside waters north of 29 degrees 57 minutes 29.6 seconds north latitude to the Louisiana/Mississippi territorial sea boundary from 89 degrees 15 minutes 30 seconds west longitude eastward to the Louisiana territorial sea boundary.

Precautionary closures of recreational and commercial fishing have been implemented based on the best information the Secretary of the department receives from field biologists, staff and trajectory models from NOAA.

Once reports of oil are received, LDWF initiates a field survey and immediate seafood testing in the suspected areas. Closures are subsequently made with the intent to be as safe as possible, while not closing any fishing areas unnecessarily. As test results come back clearing the area, effected waters are then reopened.

LDWF continues to work closely with DHH in an effort to assess all opportunities to resume normal fishing activities on Louisiana's coast and guarantee the safety of Louisiana's seafood.